Rome, Italy, Jan 17, 2023 / 07:21 am (CNA).
Cardinal Joseph Zen has said that he is “very concerned” about what could happen with the ongoing Synod on Synodality and that he is praying that “our pope will have greater wisdom.”
In an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Giornale published on Jan. 17, Zen said he hopes the synod will change from its current course.
“I fear that the synod is repeating the same mistake of the Dutch Church 50 years ago when the bishops backtracked and accepted the faithful to lead the Church; then their number decreased,” he said.
The retired bishop of Hong Kong was likely referring to the Pastoral Council of Noordwijkerhout held in the Netherlands between 1966 and 1970, which called for Church authority to be carried out in dialogue, for women to assume ecclesial roles, and for priestly celibacy to be optional in the Church.
The council followed the publication of the “Dutch Catechism,” a text so controversial that Pope Paul VI asked a commission of cardinals to examine its presentation of Catholic teaching.
In the interview, Cardinal Zen also reflected on his private meeting with Pope Francis when he was allowed to travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI earlier this month, calling it “a wonderful meeting, very warm.”
“I thanked the pope for the good bishop appointed to Hong Kong in 2021,” Zen said, referring to Hong Kong Bishop Stephen Chow.
He said Pope Francis replied: “’I know it well, he is a Jesuit!’”
The cardinal, who turned 91 last week, also told the pope about how he has dedicated his time over the past decade to prison ministry in Hong Kong and has baptized several prisoners: “Francis said that he was very happy for my ministry.”
多謝各位的生日祝福，請大家為我祈禱，使我有健康的體魄，繼續為天主及你們服務。我們在祈禱中，也不要忘記受苦的兄弟姊妹，求仁慈的上主繼續保護及安慰他們。
祝你們平安！#91歲生日Thank you for your birthday…
Posted by Joseph Zen on Thursday, January 12, 2023
Zen himself was arrested last year under Hong Kong’s national security law. He said that Catholics in China are living in a difficult situation and “we must never forget to pray in these difficult times.”
“Many faithful bear witness to their faith conscientiously but we know that when the situation becomes difficult, some think only of their own interests. We continue to uphold truth, justice, and charity. Darkness will not win over the light,” he said.
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Good judgment is a matter of intellectual acumen, “better wisdom” is either good human judgement, or the Holy Spirit’s gift of Wisdom. The latter is unique, transcendent of human wisdom, the mirror of the divinity. The latter is what Card Zen alludes to.
“The only garment required for receiving the Eucharist is faith” (Pope Francis).
From my comment on Pope Francis centralizing his authority, “”Francis seeks to recreate a perceived, doctrinally confined Church into a more expansive [inclusive] pastoral Church. The Synod the instrument to effect that change, not by formal change of doctrine, rather by legitimizing practice”.
Card Zen’s alarm is widespread, from Card Gerhard Mueller, Roberto De Mattei, to this presbyter. Insofar as wisdom, as well meaning as Francis may be on Synodality, he is indeed in need of a hefty measure of the divine kind.
We read from Cardinal Zen: “I fear that the synod is repeating the same mistake of the Dutch Church 50 years ago…” Or, “…nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)!
Exactly so, it’s all about backtracking, not moving “forward” at all, and here we’ve been carefully tutored that if the bishops act “primarily [only?] as facilitators,” then someone else later will set things “straight” again. Clearly the substitute “experts” of—what’s that word again, oh yes—synthesis!) (Hegel’s corpse manages a toothy grin…)
As Thomas More remarked to suitor William Roper: “Now you’re a passionate—Lutheran. We must just pray that when your head’s finished turning, your face is to the front again” (A Man for All Seasons, Act One).
The Dutch Catechism. Probably followed in Belgium too, at least the northern Flemish-speaking part. Today, these two countries “excel” in euthanasia and other such “progress”. Maybe the SoS could consider listening! to the wise cardinal?